Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen's Council Preview

The Ames City Council begins at 5:30 with Regular Meeting of the Ames Conference Board. The Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council will immediately follow the Regular Meeting of the Ames Conference Board. The agenda includes:

• 1. Council Budget Presentations (budget document):

  a. Public Art
  b. Arts Funding (COTA)
  c. Human Services (ASSET)
  d. Outside Funding Requests
  e. Other Requests

• 2. Public Input on Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) and Budget.
  Up until this point, all budget presentations have been informational, or Council has had the option to request more info...this is the chance for public to give input on the CIP.

• 3. Final Council Decisions:

  a. Set salaries for Council appointees
  b. Amendments to 2017-2022 CIP.
  c. Vote on motion to approve 2017-2022 CIP, as amended
  d. Amendments to FY 2016/17 budget.
  e. Vote on motion to approve proposed budget amendments for FY 2016/17.
  f. Motion to set March 7, 2017, as date of public hearing on proposed budget amendments for FY 2016/17.
  g. Amendments to proposed FY 2017/18 budget.
  h. Vote on motion to approve proposed budget for FY 2017/18, as amended
  i. Motion to set March 7, 2017, as date of final public hearing on proposed budget for FY2017/18.

The Regular City Council meeting will immediately follow Budget Wrap-Up.
 

• 24. Resolution approving Plat of Survey for 601 and 603 South 16th Street and 1420 South Grand Avenue.
  A developer of the property at 601 & 603 S 16th St. wants to redefine the lots at these addresses in order to place all of the land considered flood plain in one lot. This would allow the other area to be developed with less difficulty. 
• 25. Hearing on Annexation of property located at 4605 Hyde Avenue
  In December of 2016, Council directed staff to start the process of annexation of 4605 Hyde Ave. (and four other non-consenting owners on the east side of Hyde Ave.) This item is back on the agenda, and staff recommend Council proceed with the annexation. 
  
• 28. Resolution approving Joint Use Parking Agreement for 3500 University Boulevard.
  McFarland is hoping for a joint parking arrangement for a medical clinic and daycare center they are planning to build in the ISU Research Park. Between the two uses, required parking spots would total 205 spots. Some street parking is available on Plaza Loop, and added together with the proposed 147 spots in McFarland’s lot these parking spaces total 162. Staff recommends approval of the joint parking agreement.
• 29. Follow-up on 2017/18 CDBG Proposed Annual Action Plan projects.
  This plan details revenue and planned expenditures for the city’s 2017/2018 action plan projects. Of $919,775, $98k will be spent on administration, $550k on the old Middle School project, $150k on first-time homebuyer assistance, $45k on renter affordability projects, $60k on housing improvement projects, and $16.5k on property disposition. 
• 31. Staff report regarding sidewalk cafe requirements.
  In September, Council met to discuss potential changes to our sidewalk café ordinance, and raised several questions for staff. Staff are now reporting back on a series of topics, and asking for more direction from Council. 

• The non-agenda packet is comprised of correspondence from citizens, organizations, developers, other interested parties. During the Council Comments section of council meetings, these items may be brought forth for more information, or to direct staff to put the topic on a future agenda.f
  1. Letter from CAA supporting the concept of a large green space in Campustown, and specifying the 2500 block of Lincoln Way as a potential location for such a space. CAA is asking Council to start planning and investing in such a space now.
  2. Memo from staff about a letter from Heartland Senior Services referred on Jan 10th.  Due to an error in units of service reimbursed by the city, HSS may have some difficulty in drawing down their ASSET funds for the current year. As detailed in the staff memo, the ASSET board is not recommending a change in the current year’s ASSET contract. It is assumed that HSS will still be able to draw down their current funds, or if they don’t, that they could request those funds be carried over to the next year.
  3. Memo from staff regarding incentives offered in 2008 to rural residents on Hyde Ave in exchange for voluntary annexation. At that time, Council extended the “in town” water and sewer connection rate of $1,440 each.
  4. Memo from the legal department regarding Ash trees located on private property. In Iowa, cities have the authority to order the removal of diseased trees, but there are choices about how long to give residents to remove them and penalties for non-compliance.

Thanks for reading,

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
City Council At-Large

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